Palais de Chine Hotel

Opened in 2010 by the Taiwan-based LDC Hotels & Resorts Group, the Palais de Chine Hotel was designed as a luxury business hotel, but its convenient location and Chinese-Western fusion style has made it popular with leisure travelers, too. The moody interiors merge Chinese elegance with European neoclassical elements, creating a modern sense of glamour. Within the entrance, a wooden horse stands as an homage to humanity's mastery of travel. Velvet curtains drape across high wood-paneled walls and the lobby has low, mirrored ceilings. Parquet wood floors and roughly cut stone walls give the space an almost medieval vibe, softened by large potted flower bouquets and plush couches. 

The Palais de Chine Hotel is conveniently located near all the city's central transportation hubs within the Q square shopping complex. Guests need not leave the building for numerous dining and upscale shopping options. The Taipei Bus Terminal is adjacent to the hotel and the Taipei Railway Station (high-speed rail) and the Taipei Main station (MRT) are just across the Taipei City East-West Expy. The bustling area is filled with shopping malls and streets crammed with small retailers. The Ningxia Night Market is also within a 12-minute walk, while the infamous Snake Alley (or Taipei Hwahsi Tourist Night Market) is about 17 minutes via public transportation. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is 35 minutes away by car or an hour and 14 minutes via high-speed rail.

Half of the hotel's 286 rooms look out over the street, while the other half have views of other buildings. The rooms start on the seventh floor, far enough above the street to minimize traffic noise, but guests are barred from opening the balconies in the rooms that have them. The result is a significant waste of floor space that may be compounded by the open bathroom layout. Walk-in showers and separate soaking tubs are a nice perk, but a large portion of each room is devoted to bathroom space, and some guests may prefer more privacy than the curtains and frosted glass doors that separate bathrooms from living spaces. Wood-paneled walls and ceilings add a sophisticated flair, with a mix of European and Asian artwork keeping to the broader decorative theme. Sitting areas have plush chairs, chaise lounges, or couches, along with 40-inch flat-screen TVs. All rooms have desks, mini-fridges, and iPod docks. Executive Rooms and Suites add sofa beds and access to a club lounge where a free continental breakfast is served.

Along with the numerous dining options in the adjacent Q Square complex, the hotel has three of its own restaurants. The elegantly designed Le Palais serves Cantonese cuisine and dim sum, while La Rotisserie does grill and wood-fired oven Western fare. Le The is a stylized European tea house with afternoon tea and light bites, and Le Bar is a cocktail lounge with Moroccan-themed decor. 

The hotel notably lacks a spa, though guests do get access to a nearby outdoor pool (off-site). The fitness room here is small, but contains high-tech Technogym equipment along with a rare and expensive ROM cross-training machine (there are supposedly only two in Taipei; the other one is in the home of the chain's owner). Business amenities include four flexible meeting rooms equipped with projector screens, and a grand ballroom with with crystal chandeliers and handmade copper drapery that can accommodate up to 360 people. The 24-hour business center is laid out like a library, with semi-private work stations between shelves laden with magazines and books. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.